"Bullshit!" I fired back. "You let me leave to avoid telling me whatever you're hiding. So, let's not act like you were doing me a favor."
"That's what you think?" he breathed, a smirk teasing at his lips.
"That's what I fucking know."
I stared dead in his face, daring him to tell me otherwise, but he couldn't. He broke our stare and pulled away, like the hurt he caused staring back at him was too much to handle.
"Honor, just take me home." I sighed.
Ignoring me, he pushed his door open and got out. A wave of nausea hit me. My tears fell as fast and as hard as the rain soaking Honor's clothes as he rounded the car. The passenger door flew open. Honor grabbed my hand and tugged me out of the car.
"Honor, it's?—"
He pinned me against his truck. His body crowding mine as the rain slipped between us.
"Honor, it's raining," I whispered.
"I don't give a fuck." His breath warmed my cheek. "I want you, Navy."
My heart went wild, slamming so hard it scared me.
"Is that what you need to hear?" he growled. "That I want you just as much as I need you?"
I dragged my eyes away from his. His hand came fast, gripping my neck just enough to force my eyes back to his.
"Is that what you need, Navy?"
Rain soaked us, but it didn't compare to the way his glare dared me to deny it, dared me to pretend my body hadn't already confirmed what I refused to.
"Honor…" my voice cracked around his name. "You don't get to say it and expect it to fix everything."
"I didn't say it to fix a damn thing," he said. "I said it to give your soul a moment of peace."
Tears swelled in my eyes, blurring everything as confusion set in.
Was this pain or relief?
"I hate you." The words poured out of me before I could stop them.
"Navy," he softly grinned. "I love you enough to love that hate outta you."
Honor's voice dropped lower, rough at the edges but so fucking smooth where it mattered. "I want you, my baby."
The sound of it slid through me, fighting to smother the hate burning deep in my chest. "I hate you for knowing me so well," I professed, my voice breaking again. "I hate that you can name my pain like you're the 'cause and the cure."
"What else do you hate?" Honor murmured. He dropped his forehead to mine, our noses brushing.
"I hate how all you have to do is stand this close and?—"
His lips hovered over mine. Mine parted off instinct. Then he stopped. Close enough to promise me his next breath but farenough for me to crave his kiss. I felt his breath slow, then turn uneven and desperate.
"Tell me what you need, and it's yours."
"The truth," I whispered. "Not just the truth you think I can handle… I want to know all of it. I need to feel love. I need to feel wanted because you love me, and not because I keep you anchored."
My voice shook, but I held it together.
"I need to know that it's us, now and forever. I need to know I'm not fighting a losing game. I love being your angel in what you consider hell, but I need you to lead."
